Andre Collins didn’t mince words when it came to the purpose of his inaugural Celebrity Charity Basketball Game in July 2017 — bring awareness to local violence, drug use and gang activity and put it to a stop.

At the event, several well-known athletes, local officials and families affected by violence showed their support for Collins, a former Maryland Terrapins basketball player and current James M. Bennett boys basketball coach, and his cause.

But just days after the game, a shooting left two dead outside a Denny’s in Salisbury. An off-duty Maryland state trooper interrupted a shootout between two men. The deceased were Michael T. Ward Jr., 27, and Jaquan M. Griffin, 21.

The shooting struck a chord with Collins, who had launched his celebrity basketball event to put an end to that type of violence in the area.

“I felt kind of down last year (after the event),” Collins said regarding the Denny’s shooting. “Put down the guns — it’s not cool. Love someone. This violence stuff and the killing someone; look at the hurt and the pain that it leaves to the families that are left behind.”

Now for its second year, Collins is hoping the event continues to raise awareness and brings individuals throughout Delmarva together for one strong cause.

And one way the former Crisfield High School guard is trying to pack the house is by bringing in a NBA champion as the headliner.

Golden State Warriors’ guard Quinn Cook is scheduled to appear at Collins’ event on Aug. 4 at the Bennett gymnasium. Cook was part of the Warriors’ squad that recently swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

While Collins’ event also features slam-dunk and three-point contests, musical entertainment, AAU games and speeches from members of the community, the main attraction is the celebrity basketball game.

Divided into two teams, Collins and Cook will both serve as captains, with several other notable basketball players and athletes making up the rosters.

The Bennett coach said he’s already booked many of his former teammates that helped Maryland win its first and only national championship in 2002.

On “Team Collins,” the lineup includes former San Antonio Spur Jamar Smith, former professional European player Eddie Miller, former Maryland Terrapin Byron Mouton and several others.

Collins said former Bayside Conference players will also play in the celebrity contest, including Tavon White (Washington), Brennan Gross (Wi-Hi), Damien Johnson (Wi-Hi) and Tre Morris (Wi-Hi).

In 2002, Andre Collins (10) of the Maryland Terrapins dribbles the ball against the North Carolina Tarheels during the ACC Conference basketball game at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland. Maryland crushed North Carolina 112-79.(Photo11: Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

Prior to the main event, another game between the R1 Aces and the 6th Man Warriors will take place — two AAU squads that won the 12U Division III National Championship in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Aces are Collins’ team, which he coaches with Vernon DeShields II, Maurice Douglas and Winfield Chandler Jr.

“I’m known for basketball, and that’s why I try to use basketball to give back to the youth and this area,” Collins said. “(This game) gives the kids something to look at. Most of the time when celebrities come to visit this area, it’s only for a party. Being able to come to a celebrity basketball game to see guys who played in the NBA, a handful of guys who have played a high level of college basketball …I think is really important.”

While several of the featured players have stories about how they overcame hardships in their lives, Cook has taken a path Collins hopes can inspire any youth athlete.

Attending the bulk of his high school career at DeMatha Catholic School in Hyattsville, Maryland, Cook attended Duke, but went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft.

For the next two years, Cook was cut from teams like the Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder before finally finding a spot on the Canton Charge of the NBA Developmental League. During his tenure, he also left and had stints with the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans, but could never maintain a NBA roster spot.

Prior to the 2017-18 NBA season, Cook inked a contract with the Golden State Warriors and started 18 games, averaging nearly 23 minutes. In the Warriors’ playoff run, the guard averaged 4.8 points per game and 1.4 rebounds.

After everything he's been through, Cook never walked away from the game.

“He’s someone’s idol,” Collins said. “I think it’s huge to bring in someone like that. He can reach the kids even more than I can. He’s a great person, and this guy has fought so much over the last few years for his dreams. Who better to come and show kids your dreams are attainable?”

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Asa the Prodigy, center, performs at James M. Bennett High School during the Andre Collins Celebrity Basketball Classic on Saturday, July 1, 2017. (Photo11: Staff photo by Ralph Musthaler)

Since he first moved back to the Eastern Shore after playing basketball overseas, Collins has dedicated most of his time to giving back to his community — the place he says shaped him into the person he is today.

Along with coaching high school and AAU, Collins works directly with athletes to help build up their strength, perfect their game and get them to the next level. He and fellow basketball enthusiast Amber Elliott have also opened “The Lab," a facility that focuses on training and practicing.

For Collins, it’s all about community, which is why he’s passionate about stopping the problems that continue to plague the area.

“We’re trying to get the community back to a safe place, back to where it was when we were growing up,” Collins said. “Bullying, gun and gang violence, those type of things aren’t cool.”

As the event quickly approaches, Collins is hoping for a successful outing — one where the public truly grasps the message he is trying to send.

Regardless of how many well-known celebrities he brings to the area, it won’t matter to the Bennett coach unless he starts to see a decrease in violence in the area he calls home.

“People need to see the hurt that happens,” Collins said. “Last year it was packed, and I just hope everyone comes out again and supports the event and understand it’s bigger than basketball.”